Communist Ghost and Political Interest in Indonesia

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) faces blasphemy on the issue of draft bill of Direction of the Pancasila Ideology (HIP). The draft bill accused of reviving communism in Indonesia. But, the interesting thing is no clause that states about communism in its draft.

Communism which identically with Indonesia Communism Party (PKI) has been forbidden since 1965. But in reality, it issues always rolled out in the political interest of certain groups. This issue is not the first time for PDIP. The ruling party often linked with PKI since 1999. 

The historical aspect becomes a trigger to charge PDIP with a communism issue. Soekarno, one of the Indonesia founding fathers is a figure that closes to PKI. In the revolution era, He tried to consolidate three big ideologies (Nationalist, communist, and religious). When G30S occurs, Soekarno allegedly involved.

Furthermore, after the dissolution, all of the organizations linked with the communist party, and then fusion occurs among the political party in 1971 (PDI, PPP, Golkar), PDI was considered as a party that has Soekarno's legacy. Whereas PDI is not only composed of Indonesian National Party (PNI) but there are Murba Party, Indonesian Catholic Party (Parkindo), Christian Party, Indonesian Independence Supporters Association (IPKI).

However, PDI is the party that inherited Soekarno's thoughts. But it is clear that Soekarno is not PKI and never embraced communist ideology. Soekarno is a nationalist Who digs up Pancasila. But in the Soeharto era happened "Desukarnoisasi". So anything that has a relation with Soekarno will destroy.

When Megawati, a daughter of Soekarno involved in politic and join with PDI, it becomes a threat to Soeharto's regime. Her step to becoming The PDI chairman was blocked. The peak was the riots of 27 July 1996 whereas the headquarters of PDI attacked.

The student movement in 1998 brought the end of Soeharto. Megawati and her loyal followers built the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle on 10 January 1999. Same as today, PDIP allegedly as a communist reborn. Nevertheless, PDIP won the 1999 election.

After two periods became opposition, Since 2014, PDIP back to being a ruling party (2014-2019 and 2019-20124). The National election is still four years away but the competition has started to heat up. But it is not only about the regular election. In my opinion, it is also about Regional Head Election that will be held on 9 December 2020. 

As a nationalist party, PDIP becomes a home for many groups. There are various kinds of cadre background e.g various religion, ethnicity, and even a descendant of communist party cadre. But, actually talking about the Indonesian Communist Party has been finished because it has been forbidden by Indonesian laws.

Nowadays, Indonesia faces high poverty, equity, and transnational ideology e.g Radicalism based on Religion, liberalism, and homosexuality. When other countries talk about high technology, developing tourism to pother planets, We are still struggling with the Communist ghost.